Peritonitis due to Mycobacterium avium complex in patients with AIDS: report of five cases and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) often causes disseminated infection in patients at an advanced stage of HIV infection; however, peritonitis associated with disseminated MAC infection is rare.


METHODS
In this report, we describe five cases of MAC peritonitis in AIDS patients at our hospital, and analyze these cases alongside 11 previously published cases found in the literature.


RESULTS
Most of the AIDS patients with MAC peritonitis had CD4 counts of <50 cells/microl and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels. Other than ascites, MAC was also isolated from other sterile and non-sterile sites. Of note, six patients (37.5%) presented with chylous ascites.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite therapy, MAC peritonitis is associated with a grave outcome.
Wu
Un-In
UI
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Chen
Mao-Yuan
MY
Hu
Ruey-Heng
RH
Hsieh
Szu-Min
SM
Sheng
Wang-Huei
WH
Lo
Yi-Chun
YC
Hung
Chien-Ching
CC
Chang
Shan-Chwen
SC
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult